Doha, Qatar – March 5, 2025 – On March 5th, the Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) hosted a special Suhoor event, in conjunction with the Embassies of Canada and Australia, at the St. Regis Doha in celebration of International Women’s Day 2025. This year’s United Nations (UN) theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” emphasises the need for swift, decisive steps to achieve gender equality, addressing systemic barriers and biases that women face globally, both personally and professionally.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Aisha Hussein Alfardan, Vice Chairwoman of QBWA, underscored the power of collaboration. “At QBWA, we believe in the power of collaboration to uplift and empower women. This International Women’s Day, our partnership with the Canadian and Australian Embassies reflects our shared commitment to building meaningful connections, celebrating achievements, and creating opportunities for women to thrive. Together, we continue to build a future where women’s contributions are recognized, valued, and supported across all sectors,” said Mrs. Alfardan.
H.E. Isabelle Martin, Canadian Ambassador to Qatar, highlighted the connection between International Women’s Day and Ramadan. “It is a pleasant coincidence that this year’s International Women’s Day falls during the Holy Month of Ramadan, allowing us to bring together incredible women from the local Canadian, Qatari, and Australian communities around a traditional Suhoor dinner. The Government of Canada’s theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is ‘Strength in Every Story,’ which emphasises creating opportunities for women and girls to unlock their potential and drive innovation,” said Ambassador Martin. She also noted Qatar’s remarkable story of rapid modernisation, with many distinguished women playing a central role in the country’s success.
H.E. Shane Flanagan, Australian Ambassador to Qatar, spoke about the significant contributions of women in Qatar. “Women in Qatar are making an impact in all fields – from business and digital innovation to education, science, government, and sports. Your contributions have not only helped Qatar to prosper but have also transformed this country into a modern and desirable place to live,” Ambassador Flanagan stated.
Ambassador Flanagan also acknowledged Qatar’s humanitarian efforts, particularly in conflict zones where women and girls are disproportionately affected.
The event featured a panel discussion with three influential women: Dr. Leonie Lethbridge, COO and Executive General Manager of Commercial Bank and recently named one of the 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen of 2025 by Forbes; Dr. Sohaira Siddiqui, Executive Director of Al-Mujadilah and Professor at Georgetown University; and Mrs. Mashael Al Sulaiti, Chairperson of MAS Law Firm and QBWA member. These accomplished speakers shared insights on the theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” highlighting the importance of systemic change and sharing their personal experiences of overcoming barriers.
The Suhoor event was a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility to accelerate progress toward gender equality. The evening focused on building connections, celebrating women’s achievements, and fostering conversations about the ongoing need for transformative change. The event showcased the importance of partnerships between women from diverse sectors and countries in driving global progress toward a more equal future.
The UN International Women’s Day 2025’s theme, “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” emphasised that while progress has been made, much work remains to ensure systemic barriers are dismantled. The discussions held during the event will continue to contribute to the momentum needed for achieving lasting change for women worldwide.
The St. Regis Doha provided a beautiful setting for the event, offering an elegant and welcoming atmosphere for women leaders, advocates, and allies to come together in the spirit of solidarity and change.
